PHOTO COURTESY OF THE US COAST GUARD
The National Recreational Boating Safety Survey recently issued by the U.S. Coast Guard provides new information on recreational boating in 2018 that is key to helping policymakers and the community shape smart boating safety policy moving forward.
The survey from 2018, which takes into account all types of on-water activity, looks at boating, participation demographics, trends, boat use, at-risk boating populations, boating safety and more.
“While a number of factors have made recreational boating safer over the years, such as stronger laws, regulations, boating safety education, better enforcement, and improved manufacturing standards, it all relies on having the best data possible,” says BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy in a statement. “This information is going to help guide and develop policies that matter to boaters.”
In 2018, an estimated 84.54 million recreational boaters participated in on-water activities in the U.S., logging 10.2 billion person-hours of boating. Other key findings reveal that 65.3% of boats were trailered or transported at least once, and almost two-thirds of persons who operated a boat had not taken a boating safety course.
To learn more, visit uscgboating.org.
